1.
[syn: contrarily, to the contrary, contrariwise, on the contrary]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Contrary \Con"tra*ry\, n.; pl. Contraries.
1. A thing that is of contrary or opposite qualities.
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No contraries hold more antipathy
Than I and such a knave. --Shak.
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2. An opponent; an enemy. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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3. the opposite; a proposition, fact, or condition
incompatible with another; as, slender proofs which rather
show the contrary. See Converse, n., 1. --Locke.
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4. (Logic) See Contraries.
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On the contrary, in opposition; on the other hand. --Swift.
To the contrary, to an opposite purpose or intent; on the
other side. "They did it, not for want of instruction to
the contrary." --Bp. Stillingfleet.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
on the contrary
adv 1: contrary to expectations; "he didn't stay home; on the
contrary, he went out with his friends" [syn:
contrarily, to the contrary, contrariwise, on the
contrary]